The violaxanthin (V)-antheraxanthin (A)-zeaxanthin (Z) (VAZ) cycle was deemed a non-second-scale process of photoprotection in higher plants and microalgae, but the validity of this view has not been confirmed. To test this view, we explored responses of the VAZ cycle and the relationship between the VAZ cycle and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) under highlight at second and minute scales in Heterosigma akashiwo and Platymonas sp. Both A and Z were generated in H. akashiwo during 15 s of light exposure, whereas only A rapidly accumulated within 15 s of exposure in Platymonas sp. The above results, together with a time-dependent sigmoidal relationship between the VAZ cycle (de-epoxidation state, A/Chl a, and Z/Chl a) and NPQ, proved that the VAZ cycle was a second-scale process related to NPQ. In addition, we found that not all NPQ was dependent on the VAZ cycle and suggested that NPQ model should be carefully modified due to the species-specific proportions of de-epoxidation-dependent NPQ.

中文翻译：

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在微藻中数秒内快速形成花药黄素和玉米黄质，并且与非光化学猝灭有关。

紫黄质（V）-花药黄质（A）-玉米黄质（Z）（VAZ）循环被认为是高等植物和微藻类植物的非二级光保护过程，但尚未证实该观点的有效性。为了验证这一观点，我们在淡色和斜纹夜蛾的第二和分钟尺度下重点研究了VAZ循环的响应以及VAZ循环与非光化学猝灭（NPQ）之间的关系。A和Z都在光照15 s时在akashiwo中产生，而在鸭绿藻中15 s内仅A迅速积累。以上结果以及VAZ循环（脱环氧化状态，A / Chl a和Z / Chl a）与NPQ之间随时间变化的S型关系证明了VAZ循环是与NPQ相关的第二级过程。此外，